Skip to content
English
Go to biarrinetworks.com
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

Input data requirements

File formats, geometry types, coordinate systems and size limits for FOND input data, plus how to prepare files so they upload first time.

Before FOND can generate a plan or design, it needs input data: the addresses to serve and the routes where cable can be laid. You can bring this data in with Area Select, draw it with the drawing tools, or upload your own GIS files.

If you upload your own files, they need to meet the requirements below. Checking them before you upload is the fastest way to avoid upload errors.

Checklist before you upload

  • The file is a Shapefile, KML or GeoJSON file.
  • For a Shapefile, you have the .shp, .dbf and .prj files ready to upload together.
  • The file contains only one geometry type, and it’s the right type for the layer (see the table below).
  • The data has a coordinate reference system (CRS) defined, and it matches the data.
  • Coordinates are 2D (X and Y only, with no Z values).
  • The file is under 100 MB, and the project will have no more than the allowable number of addresses (e.g. 10,000 for Fiber Planner).

Supported file formats

You can upload Shapefile, KML and GeoJSON files. If you need another format, contact us at fondhelp@biarrinetworks.com. Most formats can be converted to one of FOND's supported formats using free GIS data editing software like QGIS.

A Shapefile is made up of several files that work together. Upload the .shp, .dbf and .prj files at the same time, either by selecting them all or by dragging them all into the upload box. FOND reads the CRS from the .prj file, so an upload without it will fail.

Tip for Windows users: Windows sometimes shows .dbf files as spreadsheet or OpenOffice documents. They’re still the right files. Upload them with the .shp and .prj files as normal.

Geometry types

Each input data layer accepts one geometry type, and each file must contain only that type. Mixed geometries and GeometryCollection features aren’t supported.

Input data layer Required geometry
Addresses Point
Underground paths LineString (not MultiLineString)
Poles Point
Aerial spans LineString (not MultiLineString)
Central office Point
Area Select boundary Polygon or MultiPolygon

Poles and aerial spans are uploaded together. See Uploading pole and strand data.

Coordinate reference system (CRS)

Every file must have a CRS defined, and that CRS must match the actual coordinates in the data. FOND accepts all common coordinate reference systems and converts everything to WGS 84 (EPSG:4326) when you upload.

If a layer appears in the wrong place on the map after upload, for example off the coast of Africa or on the other side of the world, the CRS is usually missing or doesn’t match the data.

2D coordinates only

FOND accepts X and Y coordinates only. Remove any Z (height) values before you upload.

Size and area limits

Limit Maximum
Size of an uploaded file 100 MB
Addresses in a project 10,000
Area Select boundary 1,500 sq mi (about 3,885 km²)

Most projects reach the 10,000-address limit well before the area limit. FOND also works fastest on smaller, denser areas. If a project is large or slow to generate, see Long design time.

Fixing common problems before you upload

Most upload errors can be fixed in a desktop GIS tool such as QGIS before you upload:

Problem Fix in QGIS
Lines are MultiLineString Vector › Geometry Tools › Multipart to Singleparts
Data has Z values Processing Toolbox › Drop M/Z values
CRS missing or wrong Set the correct CRS on the layer, then Export › Save Features As… to write a new file with a .prj
More than one geometry type in a file Split the data into one file per geometry type
File over 100 MB Remove attribute columns FOND doesn’t need, or split the area into smaller projects

Uploading your files

  1. In your project, open the input data panel and expand the layer you want to upload, such as Addresses.
  2. Drag your files into the upload box, or click the box to browse for them.
  3. When the upload finishes, FOND zooms to your data. Check that it’s in the right place and is the data you meant to upload before you move on to the next layer.

If an upload fails

  1. Check the file against the checklist at the top of this page.
  2. See Invalid file errors for the most common cause and how to fix it.
  3. Still stuck? Email the files to fondhelp@biarrinetworks.com and tell us which layer you were uploading. We’ll help you work out what’s wrong.